By ROBERT DUGUAY

he craft beer community is a vibrant one, especially around Rhode Island. Nearly every city and town in The Ocean State has at least one brewery with some places having two, three or more. This community has definitely grown a lot over the past decade and a half, and the Beervana Fest has contributed to this progression in major ways. Ever since 2009, the festival has been spreading the word about craft beer with its mission being to educate and enlighten folks in the art behind these hoppy beverages in both a responsible and appreciative manner. In celebration of its longevity and its role in being a showcase of breweries locally, nationally and internationally, Beervana Fest is going to be taking place on Oct. 19 at the Waterfire Arts Center located on 475 Valley St. in Providence from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.

What makes Beervana special is how an assortment of breweries use it as an opportunity for folks to try their best and most unique offerings. For example, 3 Floyds Brewing out of Munster, Indiana will have a variant of their Dark Lord Russian-style imperial stout available for attendees to indulge in.

“Get ready to raise your glasses and join us for Rhode Island’s Ultimate Beer Fest!” the festival organizers state via their social media platforms. “Whether you’re a craft connoisseur, a hophead, or just love a good brew, this event is made for you.”

Proclamation Ale Company, based at 298 Kilvert St. in Warwick, and Tilted Barn Brewery located on One Hemsley Place in Exeter are just a couple of the many breweries from Rhode Island that will be present.

“We love being involved in Beervana because it truly celebrates craft beer,” says Proclamation Owner & Creative Director Lori Witham. “It gives us an outlet to share unique beer styles, alongside other great breweries, with a community of people that have a deep appreciation and love of beer. Some other fests can feel like you're being offered similar beers from table to table with many attendees having minimal knowledge about beer, but Beervana helps bring a range of beer styles to the forefront. It's definitely one event that my staff loves being a part of.”

Former Cranston establishments Buttonwoods Brewery and Origin Beer Project, which are both currently based in Providence along with Long Live Beerworks, Moniker Brewery, Narragansett Beer, will be taking part as well.

“It's hard to not think of the Rhode Island beer scene without mentioning the impact Beervana has had on it,” Morgan Snyder, who is the Owner & Head Brewer of Buttonwoods, says about the event. “As one of the longest running fests in the state, it's always been a driving force behind pushing the envelope of what we can do and offer. Bringing in some of the best breweries to the area, allowing customers to hang out with owners/brewers or other people directly from the brewery is an experience not many fests offer and as a brewer it is always a great opportunity to hang out with our peers. It's something we look forward to every year, and this year is no different.”

Both Hive Beer and Grey Sail Brewing from Westerly, Ragged Island Brewing Company in Portsmouth and Rejects Beer Company in Middletown are going to be setting up shop. Phantom Farms Brewing in Cumberland, Tower Hill Brewing Company in South Kingstown and Pivotal Brewing Company in Bristol will be involved. Also, Nikki’s Liquors, which is based on 32 Branch Ave. in Providence, will have a table serving various beers, including a Mexican Coffee Cake imperial stout from Westbrook Brewing Company, who are out of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. As people can probably tell, saying that this year’s Beervana Fest will have a major Rhode Island presence will be a vast understatement.

For those thinking about attending, they obviously have to be over the age of 21. It’s very explicit that there will be no refunds, no exchanges and no exceptions made. To purchase tickets and for all the info about Beervana Fest, folks can log onto beervanafest.com. They can also follow the festival either on Facebook at facebook.com/beervanafest or on Instagram at instagram.com/beervanafest for future announcements. It’ll be a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon while being immersed in an inclusive atmosphere where new friends will definitely be made.